Winners and losers from girls’s hoops ‘Tremendous Sunday’: UConn stays good, massive wins for Texas and Michigan

Sunday was an enormous day in girls’s hoops — 20 of the groups within the AP prime 25 performed, and 7 video games had been between ranked opponents. It was so good we dubbed it “Tremendous Sunday” within the lead-up, and the day actually lived as much as that moniker.  We had upsets, historic performances, a rivalry sport settled in OT and even a Vic Schaefer jacket toss. 

In case you missed any of it, haven’t any concern, we’ve got you lined. Listed here are the winners and losers from Feb. 1’s motion:

Winner: UConn’s successful streak

The No. 1 Huskies are nonetheless undefeated with an ideal 23-0 file because of a 96-66 win over No. 15 Tennessee. This one was significantly necessary as a result of the Girl Vols had been their final non-conference opponents and the hardest problem remaining on their schedule.

Tennessee gave UConn a battle within the first half. After a sluggish begin, the Girl Vols fought again and led 40-36 earlier than the break. This was the Huskies’ first time trailing within the second quarter all season.

Whereas nothing ensures UConn staying unbeaten in Huge East play, there are not any groups within the convention that, a minimum of on paper, appear to be they might at present problem Geno Auriemma’s squad. The Huskies have a goal on their again, however this end result ought to give them an additional enhance of confidence.

UConn is at present on a 39-game successful streak, however its final loss got here to Tennessee final yr. Azzi Fudd mentioned she was “offended, annoyed, embarrassed” relating to her personal efficiency in that loss, which included three turnovers, three private fouls and simply three discipline objectives. Issues had been a lot completely different this time round. Fudd had 27 factors by way of 11 of 17 taking pictures from the sphere, together with 5 3-pointers. She additionally had seven rebounds, seven assists, seven steals and even a block. — Isabel Gonzalez

Loser: Tennessee’s second half

The Girl Vols beat UConn final yr after which put the Huskies on upset alert within the first half of Sunday’s sport. That effort would have made Tennessee a winner, even when it ended up being an in depth loss. Nevertheless, this become a 30-point loss, which is the most important margin of victory in collection historical past. UConn now leads the collection 18-10 since 1995, which incorporates successful 5 out of the final six matchups.

Issues began going improper midway by means of the third quarter. Tennessee went scoreless within the final 4:45 of the interval whereas UConn went on a 14-0 run. The Girl Vols could not discover the momentum once more and have now misplaced back-to-back video games. UConn is the hardest opponent within the nation, however Tennessee actually struggled to deal with the ball. By the tip of the evening, Kim Caldwell’s group had given up 36 factors off 20 turnovers. — Isabel Gonzalez

Winner: The Michigan vs. Michigan State Rivalry

Technically, No. 13 Michigan State misplaced this sport in extra time to No. 9 Michigan, 94-91, however this felt like a type of video games that boosted everybody’s profiles. In spite of everything, IInés Sotelo was centimeters away from successful it for the Spartans on the buzzer, however her halfcourt heave rimmed out and in.

It was an exceptional sport with a complete of 17 lead adjustments and 13 ties. Each groups shot effectively — the Wolverines had been 57% from the sphere and 41% from exterior, whereas the Spartans shot 51% and 46%. The most important lead for Michigan was eight factors, the largest lead for Michigan State was 4 factors, and it was a one-possession sport after every interval. Mila Holloway led the way in which for Michigan with a career-high 26 factors, six rebounds and 5 assists, whereas Jaylen Brown and Kennedy Blair each had 21 factors for the Spartans, with Blair including 10 rebounds, 4 assists and three steals.

As I discussed in my preview, this was the primary time in historical past {that a} Michigan vs. Michigan State girls’s basketball sport has been performed when each groups had been ranked within the prime 15. Video games like this one will go a protracted approach to flip this regional rivalry right into a nationwide attraction and elevate the profile of ladies’s basketball contained in the state and out. And the most effective information of all? There is a rematch in two weeks. — Lindsay Gibbs

Loser: Readability within the Huge 12

Headed into Sunday, considered one of my largest questions was who would take management of the Huge 12. With the 2 groups tied for first on the prime of the convention, No. 12 TCU and No. 14 Baylor, enjoying the groups proper behind them within the standings, No. 21 Texas Tech and No. 22 West Virginia, it appeared both Baylor and TCU would separate from the sphere or considered one of them would lastly get some room on the prime. As an alternative, West Virginia upset Baylor 70-60 and Texas Tech upset TCU 62-60, and now the Huge 12 is a much bigger query mark than ever. Baylor and TCU are nonetheless tied for first, however neither might be feeling assured proper now.

West Virginia had Baylor uncomfortable from the opening tip, and the Mountaineers ended up scoring 38 factors on a staggering 30 Baylor turnovers. The Mountaineers additionally outscored the Bears 36-8 within the paint. TCU, in the meantime, misplaced the sport on the boards and on the free-throw line; Texas Tech out-rebounded the Horned Frogs 46-34 and was 13 of 17 from the stripe, in comparison with Baylor’s 3 of 5. — Lindsay Gibbs

Winner: Texas Tech’s Snudda Collins

Out of all the massive wins immediately, I am in all probability most impressed with the efficiency of Texas Tech throughout its upset of TCU. The Pink Raiders began the season a historic 19-0, however got here into Sunday having misplaced three of their final 4, and it was tempting to jot down them off as an early-season feel-good story. However by taking down TCU, Texas Tech proved that there was nothing flukey about their begin and stayed in competition for a top-16 seed.

And the primary purpose why Texas Tech’s momentous season is again on monitor is senior guard Snudda Collins, who matched her profession excessive with 28 factors on Sunday, together with an important 3-pointer with simply 32 seconds remaining to place the Pink Raiders up 57-55. Collins additionally had 28 factors in Texas Tech’s rout of Utah final week, which means proper when her group began to slide, Collins began enjoying the most effective basketball of her profession. — Lindsay Gibbs

Loser: Iowa’s paint prowess

The No. 8 Hawkeyes are usually not often a foul group close to the rim. In reality, they dominated Ohio State on this space 42-14 of their most up-to-date win. Nevertheless, the tables turned of their 88-65 loss to No. 2 UCLA. Iowa simply did not have a solution on this space and the Bruins actually took benefit of it. By the tip of the third quarter, UCLA had scored extra factors within the paint than Iowa had scored general. After 40 minutes, the Bruins had crushed the battle within the paint 56-26.

When requested about what made it so troublesome for Iowa, Hannah Stuelke highlighted UCLA heart Lauren Betts’ dimension and protection.
“I feel they’re actually good on the within,” she mentioned. “Clearly, Lauren Betts is 6-foot-7 and it is laborious to attain on 6-foot-7.”

As for Iowa coach Jan Jensen, she mentioned Betts, who scored 16 factors, is aware of easy methods to make good choices on offense.

“A double group cannot actually, I do not suppose, decelerate Betts as a lot. As a result of I do not suppose she forces something ill-advised in opposition to the double. She sort of squares ups after which she rockets it to (Gianna Kneepkens). So do you wish to quit two or would you like her throw it out for 3?” — Isabel Gonzalez

Winner: LSU’s historic offense

After an 0-2 begin in SEC play, the No. 6 LSU Tigers have now gained seven consecutive video games, and so they made an announcement with their 103-63 victory in opposition to No. 24 Alabama. That was the twelfth time this season that LSU reached the 100-point mark, which is probably the most by any Division I group within the final 25 seasons.

It was a full group effort with eight gamers scoring a minimum of eight factors. Jada Richard led the way in which with 16 factors whereas taking pictures an ideal 5 of 5 from the sphere, together with three 3-pointers. The sport began out shut, however the second quarter was key for LSU to start out separating itself. The Tigers pressured eight turnovers whereas Mikaylah Williams scored 11 of her 15 whole factors in these ten minutes. They discovered a 49-29 lead at halftime and by no means took their foot off the gasoline.

The Tigers’ bench leads the nation in scoring, and so they had been enterprise as typical on Sunday with a complete of 47 factors. ZaKiyah Johnson put up 15, whereas MiLaysia Fulwiley contributed 10. — Isabel Gonzalez

Loser: The sphere’s hopes for a No. 1 seed

Probably the most hotly anticipated video games of the day was the SEC showdown between No. 4 Texas and No. 10 Oklahoma, however though the ultimate rating — 78-70, Texas — does not look that lopsided, it at all times felt just like the Longhorns had been in full management of the sport. Madison Booker and Rori Harmon each performed effectively, and most notably, they obtained assist from their supporting solid — Justice Carleton had 16 factors and eight rebounds, Jordan Lee added 14 factors and Aaliyah Crump added 12 from the bench. In the meantime, Oklahoma’s star freshman Aaliyah Chavez was held to simply 11 factors on 3 of 13 from the sphere.

All yr lengthy, final yr’s Closing 4 groups — UConn, South Carolina, UCLA and Texas — have been within the prime 4 of the rankings. After Texas suffered losses to LSU and South Carolina, I felt it wanted a win over the Sooners to maintain itself from falling behind the highest of the pack. That is precisely what the Longhorns achieved on Sunday. And once you mix that with the dominant wins from UCLA and UConn, it appears more and more unlikely that these 4 groups are going to be displaced on the No. 1-seed line. There’s a number of basketball left to play, and a No. 1 seed does not assure something, however I would really feel protected pencilling them in.